"Nigel Dunne has been our top scorer in the National Football, he was starting to get into the game yesterday and after 25 minutes was taken off. He looked distraught, he was angry; one couldn't blame him," Gavin stated.

In a tweetposted last night, the Shamrocks clubman set the record straight: "I did not leave O'Moore Park at half time on Sunday and head for my car, sure I came on the team bus.

"I left the dressing room to get some air, have a sulk and feel sorry for myself... nothing more!!!

"I was back on the subs bench as the ref threw up the ball for the start of the second half."